Harding Injured In Park Attack

Loses Appeal To Delay Hearing

March 05, 1994|By Phil Hersh, Tribune Olympic Sports Writer.

Tonya Harding's hopes of competing in the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships were buffeted on two fronts late Thursday and Friday.

The beleaguered skater told police she had been attacked by an unknown assailant as she walked alone across a park near her Beaverton, Ore., apartment about 11 p.m. Thursday. Harding was treated at a nearby hospital for bruises to her knees and elbows and a sprained left wrist. She also complained of pain to her stomach and chest.

Harding, 23, said the man jumped her from behind, knocked her down and jumped on her back. Police said Harding was not able to give a detailed description of the assailant.

A police report said: "She struggled a bit and was able to activate her personal security system, which emits a very loud, strong scream." That scared away the assailant, Harding said.

Friday afternoon, the executive committee of the U.S. Figure Skating Association dismissed an appeal by Harding to delay her disciplinary hearing, scheduled to begin Thursday in Colorado Springs. The appeal was an attempt to ensure Harding remains on the U.S. team for the world championships March 22-27 in Chiba, Japan.

Harding finished eighth in the Olympics after legal maneuvering kept her on the U.S. team.

The USFSA executive committee, which met by telephone conference call Friday, concluded that the USFSA bylaws do not allow an appeal of the process but provide for an appeal of the decision.

Attorneys for Harding did not return phone requests for comment.

Harding is to face charges brought Feb. 6 by a USFSA investigative panel, which found reasonable grounds to believe Harding was involved in or knew of the plot leading to the Jan. 6 attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan in Detroit.

If the USFSA finds Harding guilty of those charges, it would suspend her from the association and thereby remove her from the world championships team.

In the appeal, Harding's attorneys contended the USFSA disciplinary hearing should not take place until the criminal investigation of the Kerrigan attack is completed. A Multnomah County, Ore., grand jury is to deliver its final report March 21.

Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, has pleaded guilty to plotting the attack, in which three other men have been charged as co-conspirators.

While admitting she withheld knowledge about the clubbing of Kerrigan, Harding insists she was not involved in its planning or execution.